During the Governor’s press conference announcing indoor mask mandates, Oregon State Epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger termed the pandemic as having reached a “dire stage” with daily infections and hospitalizations reaching record highs, adding most of those getting sick are unvaccinated.  Sidelinger said spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant have exceeded previous worst case projections, and there is no immediate sign that will subside without immediate action.  His plea is for everyone to get vaccinated.  Oregon Health Authority Executive Director Patrick Allen did say the number of people getting vaccinated has begun to pick up over the last two weeks, but with spread of the Delta variant, more people need to get vaccinated now.

North Central Public Health District and Mid-Columbia Medical Center issued a statement today that with COVID-19 cases in Wasco County rising rapidly, they are urging all residents to protect themselves — and one another.  They are asking people to wear a mask whenever out in public doing things like grocery and retail shopping, practice social distancing, and to get a COVID-19 shot if they haven’t already.  The statement says area hospitals are seeing an influx of patients who require hospitalization due to COVID-19.  They note getting vaccinated is any easy way to keep yourself, and others, out of the hospital.

The Hood River County Health Department is making a push to get eligible students vaccinated before the school year starts.  Those 12 years of age or older can receive Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, but it is a two-dose vaccine, and Hood River County COVID-19 Coordinator Daron Ryan says now is the time to for school-age youth to get the series started.  Ryan adds the encouragement to get vaccinated goes beyond COVID-19 to other shots for children before the school year begins.  

Wonderworks Children’s Museum in The Dalles will reopen on Friday after 16 months of limited operations.  In a statement, the museum said it has refreshed the space and are ready for children to explore and play.  Wonderworks will be open six days a week, Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.   It will be closed for cleaning and disinfecting from noon to 1 p.m.  Wonderworks has received a grant from Oregon Community Foundation that will allow free admission during the month of August, a free school supply giveaway starting August 23, and free programming for kids and their families in September.  Those who were members as of March 2020 have been extended to June 2022.  Annual memberships are $120 for a family and $200 for a childcare provider.

North Wasco County School District 21 Board will host a “listening session” on Thursday at The Dalles Middle School.  New D-21 Superintendent Dr. Carolyn Bernal says the session will allow families, staff, and community members to comment on the reopening of schools to full-time in-person learning.  The “listening session” will be an in-person meeting beginning at 6 p.m. at The Dalles Middle School, and it will be live streamed through the D-21 Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Mid-Columbia Community Action Council is partnering with a number of agencies to offer cooling centers options this week for community members in need of a place to get out of the heat.  The cooling centers will be located at Hood River Alliance Church on 2650 Montello and at St. Vincent DePaul on 315 West 3rd in The Dalles.  They will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. from Wednesday through Saturday.  Guests of the cooling centers will be required to comply with COVID-19 guidelines and face covering requirements.  Transportation to and from the cooling centers will be offered by Columbia Area Transit.  

As Oregon surpassed its COVID-19 hospitalization record on Tuesday, Governor Kate Brown announced that she is issuing two new coronavirus-related mandates:   a vaccination requirement for state employees and statewide indoor mask requirements.  The details about the statewide mask requirement will be outlined during a news conference Wednesday.  State employees will be required to be fully vaccinated on or before Oct. 18 or six weeks after a “COVID-19 vaccine receives full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration”, whichever is later.  The Oregon Health Authority reported 2,329 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of the start of Tuesday with nine new COVID-related deaths, including one in Wasco County, and the number of hospitalized COVID-19 positive patients in Oregon has surpassed the previous pandemic high set back in November.  The OHA says a 72-year-old man from Wasco County who tested positive for COVID-19 last Wednesday died on Saturday at his residence.   The presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.  In its Tuesday report, the OHA reported 42 new COVID-19 cases in Wasco County, seven in Hood River County, and one in Gilliam County.  The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon in the Tuesday report was 635, which is 60 more than Monday, and there are 164 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit beds, which is up by 16.  

Klickitat County Public Health Director Erinn Quinn told County Commissioners on Tuesday that with only 39.2 percent of the County’s population fully vaccinated against COVID-19, “everyone is vulnerable.”  Quinn says the County’s pace of vaccinations has slowed way down, with only about 100 given out county-wide each week, and with the County Fair and the opening of school coming up she’s concerned about what the next few weeks will look like.  She noted modeling projections show cases won’t hit a peak for another month, adding the age of those with serious complications from COVID is dropping.  Quinn spoke of two County residents under 40 in the hospital with COVID in the last week, plus a minor in Intensive Care who had no other health conditions.  Quinn said the demand for COVID testing from medical providers in the County is high, and hospital space remains tight.  Quinn did say while they are seeing breakthrough cases, those cases have milder symptoms than those people who have not been vaccinated.

Washington Gorge Action Programs is opening a Cooling Center adjacent to the Hegewald Center at 710 SW Rock Creek Drive in Stevenson.  It will open Wednesday at 11 a.m. and will remain open until 7 p.m. or until temperatures fall to safe levels in the evening.  It will be open each day until the National Weather Service’s Excessive Heat Warning is canceled, which is currently projected for Saturday night.  Those who are unable to shelter in a cool location and remain safe and healthy are welcome to go to the Cooling Center and get out of the heat. COVID-19 protocols will be in place.  Call (509) 281-1129 for more information.

The Hood River City Council selected 12 people from a list of 34 applicants to serve on its Affordable Housing Production Strategy Task Force.  City Senior Planner Jennifer Kaden told the Council that they looked for a representative range of ages, experience, and demographics in making the selections. Interim City Manager Will Norris did say that there were inherent obstacles to finding younger service industry workers and families that can take part in the plan, but they will look to involve them in other ways.  City Planner Dustin Nilsen added they will respond to all the applicants that did not get picked for the committee and provided them opportunities to participate.  The task force is to provide input to Council in the development of affordable housing policy strategies to be adopted and implemented, and not act as a technical advisory committee.